The Resurgence of Small Towns in America: Are People Making the Move To Smaller Towns?

Posted at 19:52h in Uncategorized by Portland SEO rowth

Imagine a neighborhood where all the neighbors know your name and kids play safely in the cul-de-sac.

You often run into people you know at the grocery store for a chance to catch up. The only noise you hear outside your home is the occasional sound of children’s laughter and cars quietly coming and going.

While this may sound like an idyllic make-believe scenario, this is the reality of small towns in America.

The resurgence of small towns in America has spiked as people abandon clamorous, odiferous cities for tranquil suburbs and small communities.

In this article, we will examine the comeback of small towns and tell you how you can find your slice of small-town life in the greater Portland area.

Are Small Towns Making a Comeback?
3 Reasons Homeowners Are Leaving Big Cities for a Small-Town Feel
Small Town Revival: Tips for Bringing Small Towns Back To Life
PEGGY HOAG REAL ESTATE: Helping Clients Find Their Dream Home in Small-Town America

Are Small Towns Making a Comeback?

Yes, the resurgence of small towns in America is a phenomenon that picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains steady. Big crowds, noise, and pollution are drawing people out of cities and instigating the resurgence of small-town America.

Reports argue that new technological advancements and pandemic disruptions may have been the factors that turned the tide of shrinkage in small American towns.

The real estate industry in 2020 was shocked to see rural and suburban areas nearly double in listings, while major cities like New York and San Francisco came to a draw with drops in their property holdings.

Even prior to the pandemic, small towns were quietly growing at a faster rate than their big city counterparts.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that small towns in the West experienced a population growth of up to 13.3%, compared to 9.1% growth for large cities (within the same region).

Are you looking to become a big-city transplant in a small town? The transition from a big city to a small town can be difficult if you have no experience with the real estate market or the town.

With over 30 years and an indomitable mark on the industry, the experts at PEGGY HOAG REAL ESTATE know the greater Portland area like the back of their hand. If 2100 closed homes and over $1.4 billion in sales since 1991 don’t tell you anything, let us inform you about our values.

We value the warmth of small towns — the growing economic opportunities for growing families and professionals, young and old alike. We want to help you be a part of the reassurance of small towns in America. Are you ready to join us?

3 Reasons Homeowners Are Choosing a Small-Town Feel Over Bigger Cities

#1: Personal Preference

For some people, space is vital for growing a family. Whether that means more room in a house or more land, smaller towns offer more family-friendly space to raise children.

According to a Taylor & Francis Online study, most people who are planning to or are currently raising children prefer to do so in smaller municipalities (36%), followed by city edges (32%), rural areas (13%), city centers (11%), and 7% had no preference.

Another personal preference involves the type of environment. While certainly interesting, the songs of the city that constantly sing emergency vehicle sirens, road rage incidents, and the random hollering yells can become grating over time.

And then there’s the traffic. Lots and lots of traffic.

Smaller towns offer a more peaceful setting that replaces the concrete, the smell of exhaust, and lines and lines of cars with pastoral greenery, the smell of fresh-cut grass, and well-maintained roads with little traffic.

#2: Technological Advancements

Generally, smaller towns have seen a shrinkage within the past two decades due to limited economic opportunities. As people moved to cities for work, the resurgence of small towns in America was put on ice until it began to thaw again after the pandemic.

Social distancing necessitated the need for remote work, and while it may have been born out of necessity, it then quickly grew up to be a labor commodity.

Technological advancements initiated a digital revival and diversification of the economy in small towns.

Now, people don’t have to move to a city for work that could be done remotely. Smaller businesses are able to grow and flourish virtually without having to relocate to a more populous area. The internet has created a surplus of jobs involving graphic design, AI, coding, IT, and other careers that don’t require a physical office space.

Pew Research Center reports that around 22 million employed workers (age 18 and up) completely work from home — this equates to 14% of the working, adult population. And these work trends are only gaining traction. According to experts, it is estimated that 22% (36.2 million Americans) of the workforce will be fully remote by 2025.

#3: More Diversity

While you may think smaller, more rural towns are constricted by a lack of diversity, the opposite is growing substantially true. Due to globalization, a rapidly shifting economy, an evolving job market, and varying rates of employment, smaller towns have attracted a wide group of people.

Data shows a multitude of millennials from different economic and racial backgrounds seeking refuge from the costs of coastal cities to settle in affordable single-family homes.

Though small down America experienced some minor population changes, the growing diversity of nonmetropolitan areas has boomed. A 2020 census update informs us that there are 2 million fewer Caucasian people in 2020 than in 2010, while the number of rural non-white people increased to 11 million, which is now 24% of the nonmetropolitan population.

Small Town Revival: Tips for Bringing Small Towns Back To Life

Small towns allow individuals, families, local ecology, and the economy to thrive.

Studies show that being involved in a closer community may significantly boost a person’s quality of life. It has also been found that children in close-knit neighborhoods are more likely to receive support and positive influence from other adults, which may lower their risk of health-damaging behaviors.

Evidence also suggests that in Blue Zones (areas of the world where people live longer, healthier lives), the main common denominator is a strong community. Neighborhoods also tend to invest more in local businesses and build infrastructure that preserves the environment.

By providing fertile ground for various positive influences to thrive, small towns may be the backbone of America’s social, economic, and environmental progression.

Enforce Zoning Codes

Zoning codes can help conserve existing neighborhoods by regulating the following:

Land use
Property values
Development density
Building design
And more

From reserving green space and historic homes to promoting sustainable infrastructure, the enforcement of zoning codes can effectively balance and preserve the growth of neighborhoods while enhancing their character and livability.

Provide Opportunities for Local Economic Development

By encouraging the development of new businesses and industries, smaller communities can help create jobs and provide economic growth opportunities for residents.

This may also create an environment that attracts tourists, new community members, and new companies to the area. This may be achieved by creating programs that bolster this cycle of social and fiscal expansion.

Citizens of smaller towns can get involved by petitioning their local-level government for policies that create spaces and incentives to help promote local economic development.

Encourage Community Engagement

Community engagement encourages collective decision-making and representation opportunities to give residents the power to have a say in the community and establish community values and standards.

It also allows communities to come together to strengthen a small town’s brand and appeal. By sharing a broad range of perspectives and ideas, a community can come together to achieve common goals.

Community leaders can encourage engagement by:

Investing in a community center.
Holding meetings with incentives for community participation.
Empowering locals to express their opinions via online polls.
Encouraging the community to vote.
Hearing opinions from local focus groups.

PEGGY HOAG REAL ESTATE: Helping Clients Find Their Dream Home in Small-Town America

Are you seeking refuge from the noise, smell, and distress of the city? If so, you’ll need a real estate company that has extensive knowledge of multiple small-town areas.

PEGGY HOAG REAL ESTATE has dominated the luxury real estate industry in the greater area of Portland for almost 30 years.

We know the peaks, valleys, and springs of the land and the market.

Your home is one of the best investments you will make in your life. You need to be in good, knowledgeable hands when you decide to make any moves, whether literally or fiscally.

Contact the experts at PEGGY HOAG REAL ESTATE to make your move today. 503-906-1370